"Cultivate your life - you are what you grow -
inch by inch, row by row"

Welcome!

I'm a wife, mom, long-time organic gardener and now a new organic farmer, Registered Dietitian (RD), author of the book A Dietitian's Cancer Story and website CancerRD.com. In between all that and more, I am a multiple-time cancer survivor. My website focuses on nutrition information for cancer survivors, however I began this blog in June 2007 to share a wider scope of my thoughts about life as a cancer survivor, food and nutrition, growing food, recipes, our environment, and the urgent need for developing food systems that promote health not disease, ecological sustainability, and social justice.

In January 2009, I began my blog "365DaysOfKale" to write about my passion for "all things kale" and the CancerVictoryGardens™ blog in March 2009 to help everyone touched by cancer cultivate health through a garden's nourishment of body and soul.

My Book

Personally autographed copies of the most recent printing are available at Nicola's Books in Ann Arbor, MI (734-662-0600, nicolasbooks.com). Proceeds are donated to research funded by The American Institute for Cancer Research (aicr.org, 1-800-843-8114).

Cancer Nutrition Websites

Disclaimer

All material on this blog is for informational purposes only. Please consult your personal physician and health care team for advice that pertains specifically to you. The author of this blog disclaims any liability arising directly or indirectly from the use of the information on the blog.

Friday, January 23, 2009

Summer in January! Recipe: Gazpacho

Yes, "Summer in January" was the theme for the Michigan Lady Food Bloggers gathering on Saturday. We all looked in our freezer and pantry shelves to find summer foods we had preserved in some way by canning, freezing, pickling, or drying. There is nothing like great food and great conversation with old and new friends to chase away thoughts of Michigan's snow and freezing temperature outside.

I brought Gazpacho using our home-canned tomatoes rather than fresh ones, which is a great recipe for winter, rather than the tasteless fresh ones typically available in January. I also used our frozen roasted sweet red peppers, our fresh herbs growing in my sunny south window, and our own elephant garlic cloves harvested last summer. I did purchase the onion (ours are long gone), a fresh cucumber, yellow pepper, orange pepper, and jalapeno pepper.

Gazpacho Ingredients:

• 2 quarts of canned tomatoes

• 1 cup water

• 2 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil (do not omit - this is needed for both flavor and to maximize the absorption of all the fat-soluble cancer fighting phytochemicals in the tomatoes and other ingredients)

• 1 large cucumber (remove most of the waxed peel, remove the seeds, and dice into small pieces) - about 2 cups

• 1 yellow sweet pepper - remove seeds, then cut into small dice

• 1 orange sweet pepper - remove seeds, then cut into small dice

• 1 roasted red sweet pepper - cut into small dice

• 4-6 garlic cloves - cut into very small dice

• 1 jalapeno pepper - remove seeds, then cut into very small dice

• 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika (optional)

• 1/4 cup red wine vinegar

• Salt and pepper to taste (I used about 1/2 teaspoon salt and several grinds of the pepper mill)

• unflavored yogurt

• fresh herbs of choice, chopped small (I used a mix of chives, parsley, thyme, rosemary, and marjoram)

Gazpacho Method:

• Blend first quart of tomatoes quite well, so that seeds and tomatoes are pureed

• Blend second quart only slightly so that the tomatoes are still a bit chunky

• Transfer both quarts of blended tomatoes to a large soup pot or serving bowl and add all remaining ingredients except herbs and yogurt.

• Season with salt and pepper.

• Cool several hours, however if possible make the day before to allow flavors to blend.

• Serve with a dollap of yogurt and a sprinkle of herbs.

Here are some of the other foods brought followed by some photos (sorry I missed getting a picture of everything!):

Ahhhhhh, "Summer in January" is a celebration I have not done before. I loved both the reflection on last summer and the excitement about the growing season and harvesting of fresh fruits and vegetables to come!! I hope our Michigan Lady Food Bloggers has this gathering every January as I love looking forward to happy events.

Check out the blogs written by the growing number of Michigan Lady Food Bloggers. Each one is different, and each one is fascinating reading. They are listed on the left side of my blog, complete with links to each one. I'll bet that no matter where you live, if you look around, you'll find a similar group of interesting people in your own neck of the woods (city, state, country) who love to eat and cook great-tasting food made with ingredients from local farmers and/or local companies. In fact, I encourage you to start your own blog about whatever you wish to write about! Even my husband is now starting a blog of the recipes that he enjoys cooking. Check it out at NoTime4BlandFood!

Let me know if you find a blog you really like in your location or if you start one yourself!